MEDIA RELEASE

Women Doing IT for Themselves

Released 26 October 2004

Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766

Where would you go to learn Internet skills, explore learning pathways and find out what your local TAFE has to offer? How about your local library? Local Bangladeshi women recently completed a 10-week computer course as part of the innovative Engaging Communities Project being run by Information and Cultural Exchange.

Held in the computer room of Parramatta Library, the program targeted those with little or no computer knowledge. “Most of the women who participated have lived in Australia for less than five years and have young children so have not yet entered the local workforce,” said Coordinator Therese Fingleton.

ICE’s Engaging Communities Project aims to work in partnership with Parramatta libraries and community centres to provide computer access and training opportunities for those who have difficulty accessing technology. Funded for a three-year period through the Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme this program is the first of its kind in the region.

“The course was very successful and we hope it will provide a bridge into Tafe for the participants,” said Therese. One program participant, Alva Das now hopes to continue her studies at Tafe as a result of the program, “The venue was perfect for me because it was so close to public transport. I was grateful that childcare was provided otherwise I couldn’t have attended,” she said.

Manju Chakraborty also competed the course. “I enjoyed the content and working with the group. I now know more about Parramatta library and plan to use it more.”

“Because of the success of this course we have started planning to run a series of similar courses with Tafe. The beauty of Tafe Outreach (who funded the trainers) is their philosophy of taking Tafe to communities who cannot easily access it,” said Therese.

“The strength of the project is in its partnerships,” said ICE Director Lena Nahlous. “The Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre identified the need and recruited participants, Parramatta Library hosted the training and Granville Tafe provided the training. This is what ICE d0es best—unite organisations to maximise benefits for the community,” she said.

“We are running programs in libraries as they are already a meeting place for the community and in many cases have good technology infrastructure. We welcome interest from community organisations, training providers and businesses in developing community technology access and learning programs in partnership with us,” said Therese.

As well as working with adults, the Engaging Communities project targets young people through its Homework Support programs at Parramatta City Library and soon at Ermington library.

For information on the Engaging Communities Project, contact Therese Fingleton on 9897 5744 ext 4.